Archive for August, 2007

The ultimate portable media player

1G iPod NanoThere are a vast number of portable media players on the market. They come in all different sizes, colours and configurations, each hoping to capture the greatest market share. The iPod, which has dominated the market since its launch in October 2001, is synonymous with the portable media player, in much the same way as the Walkman and the Hoover are for the personal stereo and the vacuum cleaner. Apple have maneuvered themselves into this position by being early adopters in the market (although they were by no means the first) and by innovating with their design, features and marketing.

Personally, I own a 2GB iPod Nano (1G). It is great! I use it every day and to be honest if I had to choose I would pick it over my mobile phone. However, it is starting to show its age, not just because of wear and tear, but also because of its design and technical capabilities. This got me thinking as to what features I would like in a media player, and why they’re not available yet. I’ve tried to show no bias towards Apple (or any other manufacturer) but comparisons to other media players are inevitable.

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MTV, RealNetworks, and Verizon gang up on Apple and the iTMS

execs editOne company couldn’t take down Goliath, now maybe three can.

Viacom’s MTV Networks, RealNetworks, and Verizon Wireless announced today that they are teaming up to bring music lovers everywhere yet another digital music service, Rhapsody America, in an attempt to create a stronger competitor to Apple’s market-dominating iTunes Music Store.

The collaboration of the three companies “is like a perfect storm,” said Van Toffler, president of MTV Networks Music.

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Adobe launches "Moviestar" version of Flash Player – HD quality for Web video

Adobe launches Adobe today announced the latest version of its near ubiquitous Web video software, Adobe Flash Player 9, which includes improved image quality through support for the industry standard H.264 codec.

Our sister blog, Read/WriteWeb, reports:

It’s codenamed Moviestar, because it includes H.264 standard video support, which is the same standard deployed in Blu-Ray and HD-DVD high definition video players. In other words, the quality of video has been substantially improved from the previous version of Flash Player 9. Also added to the mix is High Efficiency AAC (HE-AAC) audio support and “hardware accelerated, multi-core enhanced full screen video playback”.

Adobe claims that these advancements will extend their leadership position in web video “by enabling the delivery of HD television quality and premium audio content”.

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Leave your laptop behind with iPhone Web apps

facebookI feel naked. I go someplace and all I have with me is my iPhone.

My laptop is at home or in the backpack in my car. The Moleskine I used to carry to take quick notes is probably in the backpack, or left on the desk. When I get takeout for the wife and the kid, I leave the paperback or magazine on the coffee table because I know I have something with me to occupy idle time.

This past weekend I realized I do most of what I want on the Web with my iPhone. I don’t mean editing web pages, updating blog posts, downloading photos and such, but for the basics of checking email, updating Facebook and Twitter accounts, sending instant messages, reading RSS feeds, making a list, taking a quick picture and emailing it to my flickr account, and listening to music or a book, I’m covered.

I never felt this way with my Blackberry.

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Are European carriers playing hardball with Apple?

iPhone boxWith the iPhone’s pending European release expected before the year’s end, a week hasn’t gone by without new rumors of which carrier has secured an exclusive distribution deal with Apple — with the latest reports suggesting that Vodafone may now be leading the charge. However, perhaps more interesting is speculation that the European carriers are playing hardball with Apple, demanding that the company fix a number of shortcomings with the iPhone, which they believe could otherwise stifle sales.

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Just for laughs: 8 comedy video sites

cc web showsIf comedy is your thing, the Web can be a funny place. Finding the laughs, however, is no laughing matter.

I thought it would be easy to put together a review of my top 5 or 10 comedy video podcasts. But narrowing down favorite comedy into 5 or 10 shows is like finding my 5 favorite grains of sand on a California beach.

So instead of 5 or 10 video podcast comedies, I’ve collected some of my favorite places to find video comedy on the Web. I’ll mostly leave it up to your funny bone to find something that makes you laugh, although I’ve snuck in a few for your viewing pleasure.

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Weekly wrapup, 13 – 17 August 2007

Here’s a summary of the week’s digital lifestyle action on last100. Note that you can subscribe to the weekly wrapups, either via the special weekly wrapup RSS feed or by email.

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Top digital lifestyle news

In a post titled ‘Google shows why DRM is evil‘ we looked at Google’s decision to abandon paid-for video downloads, noting that, as of this week, purchased videos will no longer playback, and instead users are being a given refund in the form of a Google Checkout “bonus”. One of the inherit problems with DRM is that if a company goes bust or, presumably in Google’s case, decides to shut down the servers it uses to verify a legitimate purchase, then any DRM’d media is rendered useless.

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CD celebrates 25th birthday

CD celebrates 25th birthdayThe BBC reports that it was 25 years ago, to this day, that the world’s first compact disc was produced at a Philips factory in Germany. The rest, as they say, is history.

A joint project between Philips and Sony, designed to create a standard for an optical disc for storing and playing back music, the CD has since gone on to sell over 200 billion, and despite the rise of digital downloads, continues to dominate music sales.

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10 sites for free legal music

Nowadays there is much reported about the rise of illegally copied music being made available on the Internet. However, there is also plenty of music on the web that is free and legal. In this post we look at ten sites or services that offer free legal music to download.

ArtistServer.com
ArtistServer.com ArtistServer has been around since 2001, albeit under the name ElectronicScene.com. In 2005 they transformed the site to widen their scope and incorporate social networking features. At its core is a database of over 7,000 songs that can be downloaded for free. An artist’s catalog also has an RSS feed that can be subscribed to like any other feed, allowing the user to keep up to date with any new additions. Photos, videos and blogs from artists complete this interesting site.

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"Facebook Diaries" debut on Comcast's VOD

facebook diariesNewTeeVee notes that “Facebook Diaries” launches tonight at about 9 p.m. on Comcast’s video on demand service. I am intrigued by user-generated content mixed together by a professional producer to create a television show unlike any we’ve seen so far.

The Web component for the eight-episode, weekly series is already in place as the pilot episode, “Who Am I,” is available on Facebook and on Comcast’s video sharing site Ziddio. The project was announced earlier this year and has Facebook users recording and submitting clips of their lives based on topics such as who am I, heartbreak, road trip, wild nights, and my memory.

The user clips are taken by R.J. Cutler of Actual Reality Pictures and weaved, with motion graphics and music, into a half-hour show based on a theme. Cutler is an Oscar-nominated, Emmy-winning producer of TV shows, including “American High” and “30 Days,” and his touch will be crucial to the success and future of the “Facebook Diaries.”

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